Our bull quickly discovered he could break out the boards from our new vinyl fence and escape. So we drilled holes in the posts and ran electric wire on the inside of the fence behind the center board. It won't short the fence, doesn't mar its beauty, or require insulators. Now the bull leaves it alone. --S.N., Virginia

This hinge allows me to fold the gate flat on both sides of the corral fence. A conventional hinge would move the gate 180° only. It's a 16-foot gate, so I used 1/4-inch gussets and steel to keep it from flexing too much. Now I can maneuver the tractor and skid steer more easily. --V.H., Minnesota

Using old springs from car hoods keeps my electric fences tight. I've been able to find them in salvage yards. They have saved me a great deal of breakage. Now, even if a deer or cow fails to see the fence, it still won't break. I attach the springs to the corner posts. --S.S., Nebraska

I cut a 12-foot bent tube gate into three 54x54-inch automatic ATV gates. I bolted 2-inch-wide rectangular tubing to the top of each as stops and for mounting pulleys. A 10-pound weight is on the end of each 5-foot cable. The pulleys are on the top and back of the tubing and the front of the gates. They are secured to the ground with 3-foot-long metal stakes. --R.W., Illinois

I have both oak and pine. I prefer pine because it's easier to work with and lasts longer. If you use oak, you'll need to cover the tops with aluminum flashing to keep the water out, or they'll deteriorate quickly. I've also found that rock in the bottom and about halfway up extends the posts' life. --t-top

For an inconspicuous fence opening, I wired a hook to one cut wire and a piece of small chain to the other. It's easy enough to open with a fence stretcher. Also helps prevent cold-weather stretch. --J.W., Nevada

I made an electric fence checker by tying wire to the tip end of a spark plug with a piece of rubber hose and electric tape for insulation. Wrap end around barbed wire to ground; touch plug to wire. --A.B., Arkansas